The Cincinnati Enquirer |
Tempo Page
|
Wednesday, March 23, 1995 |
|
Since gay couples cannot procreate, their unions are not sanctioned by God, says the Rev. Damon Lynch Jr., president of the Baptist Ministers Conference of Cincinnati.
"He created them male and female" he says, paraphrasing the Bible, "and they were created for felloship with each other as well as procreation. Two men cannot procreate. Neither can two women. That's the basic fundamental principle." For the same reason, Ray George, director of communications for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, says: "It would be wrong for any priest or any other official of the (Catholic) church to sanction homosexual unions." "Such unions cannot be construed as marriage since marriage by its very nature involves a union between a man and a women. This union is ordered to the procreation and rearing of children, as well as to the wholeness of husband and wife." The Rev Wayland Melton, rector of Grace Episcopal Church in College Hill, says sympathetic priests find ways of circumventing disapproving churches. "The Episcopal chruch says we do not do unions for same-sex relationships," he says. So some priests have instead performed "house blessings." |
In the Reform Jewish movement, there is nothing official regarding same-sex ceremonies, says Rabbi Margaret Meyer, president of the Cincinnati Board of Rabbis.
"There are some rabbis who officiate at what's called 'commitment ceremonies,' and they do make a distinction between that and a legal marriage," Meyer says. At New Spirit Metropolitan Community Church in Mt Auburn, "We never have to do this secretly," days the Rev. Bonnie Daniel, pastor of the gay-outreach congregation. "It's a rite of the church, a celebration of our membership." Daniel has performed at least 500 ceremonies uniting gay and lesbian couples during her 22 year ministry. At a General Assembly July 15-22 in Cincinnati, Prebyterians will vote on an amendment prohibiting ministers from blessing same-sex unions. If adopted, the resolution becomes part of the church’s constitution. "It’s a very complicated issue; it gets into freedom of expression," says the Rev. Samuel Roberson, general presbyter of the Presbytery of Cincinnati. In Melton’s opinion, "There’s no way you can escape this and say, ‘This is odd.’ We all know of (gay) couples who are responsible, who have homes, who are deeply involved in their church and community. We can’t just say this is a passing thing." |
 |
 |
